Heart reshaping system

Abstract

Ultrasound probe systems and methods for using an ultrasound probe to assist during treatment of conditions of the human heart are provided. The method may comprise loading a medical instrument into a guide fastened to the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe may be inserted into a patient by way of an incision. The distal end of the ultrasound probe may be navigated to a location adjacent to an exterior surface of the heart. A treatment site may be identified on the exterior surface of the heart based on images obtained from an ultrasound transducer disposed within a distal end of the ultrasound probe. The medical instrument may be advanced within the guide to the treatment site and the medical instrument used for treatment. After treatment, the medical instrument may be withdrawn from the treatment site.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A self-expandable heart anchor comprising:
 a ring having a ring-shaped configuration and a straightened configuration, the ring in the straightened configuration being configured to be positioned inside a lumen of a catheter, the ring in the ring-shaped configuration having a center, and the ring being biased towards the ring-shaped configuration; 
 a cord; and 
 a cover having a collapsed configuration and a disc-shaped configuration and a central portion engaged with the cord and a peripheral portion at which the ring is positioned, 
 the cover in the collapsed configuration being folded against the ring, and 
 the central portion being engaged with the cord such that pulling the cord moves the central portion of the cover from the collapsed configuration inward to the center of the ring in the ring-shaped configuration, and engaged with the cord such that pulling the cord tightens the cover from the disc-shaped configuration into a cone-like configuration. 
 
     
     
       2. The self-expandable heart anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the ring in the ring-shaped configuration extends about the peripheral portion of the cover. 
     
     
       3. The self-expandable heart anchor of  claim 2 , wherein the cover in the collapsed configuration is folded against the ring in the straightened configuration. 
     
     
       4. The self-expandable heart anchor of  claim 3 , wherein the ring is configured to be straightened from the ring-shaped configuration to the straightened configuration. 
     
     
       5. The self-expandable heart anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the ring in the ring-shaped configuration extends peripherally about the cover in the disc-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       6. The self-expandable heart anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion of the cover is engaged with the cord such that pulling the cord cinches the central portion of the cover taut towards the center of the ring in the ring-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       7. The self-expandable heart anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion of the cover is engaged with the cord such that pulling the cord away from a plane aligned with the ring in the ring-shaped configuration tightens the cover into the cone-like configuration. 
     
     
       8. The self-expandable heart anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is coupled to the cord and to the ring when the ring is in the straightened configuration. 
     
     
       9. An anchoring system comprising:
 a cord; 
 a first heart anchor including:
 a ring having a ring-shaped configuration and a straightened configuration, the ring in the straightened configuration being configured to be positioned inside a lumen of a catheter, the ring in the ring-shaped configuration having a center, and the ring being biased towards the ring-shaped configuration, and 
 a cover having a collapsed configuration and a disc-shaped configuration and a central portion engaged with the cord, and a peripheral portion at which the ring is positioned, 
 the cover in the collapsed configuration being folded against the ring, and 
 the central portion being engaged with the cord such that pulling the cord moves the central portion of the cover from the collapsed configuration inward to the center of the ring in the ring-shaped configuration, and engaged with the cord such that pulling the cord tightens the cover from the disc-shaped configuration into a cone-like configuration; and 
 
 a second heart anchor configured to engage the cord to thereby couple to the first heart anchor. 
 
     
     
       10. The anchoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the central portion of the cover is engaged to a first end of the cord and the second heart anchor is configured to engage a second end of the cord. 
     
     
       11. The anchoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the cord is configured to draw the first heart anchor and the second heart anchor towards each other. 
     
     
       12. The anchoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the cord is configured to be tensioned between the first heart anchor and the second heart anchor. 
     
     
       13. The anchoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the cover has the disc-shaped configuration when the ring is in the ring-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       14. A method for treatment of a heart, the method comprising:
 fixating a splint to the heart so as to alter a geometric shape of the heart, the splint including an anchor including:
 a ring having a ring-shaped configuration and a straightened configuration, the ring in the straightened configuration being configured to be positioned inside a lumen of a catheter, the ring in the ring-shaped configuration having a center, and the ring being biased towards the ring-shaped configuration, 
 a cord, and 
 a cover having a collapsed configuration and a disc-shaped configuration and a central portion engaged with the cord and a peripheral portion at which the ring is positioned, 
 the cover in the collapsed configuration being folded against the ring, and 
 the central portion being engaged with the cord such that pulling the cord moves the central portion of the cover from the collapsed configuration inward to the center of the ring in the ring-shaped configuration, and engaged with the cord such that pulling the cord tightens the cover from the disc-shaped configuration into a cone-like configuration. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the anchor is a first anchor coupled to a first end of the cord, and the splint includes a second anchor coupled to a second end of the cord. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein fixating the splint includes deploying the first anchor to a septum between a right ventricle and a left ventricle or to a wall of the right ventricle outside the right ventricle, and includes deploying the second anchor to a wall of the left ventricle outside the left ventricle, and includes extending the cord across the left ventricle. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising pulling the cord to tighten the cover from the disc-shaped configuration into the cone-like configuration. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the splint is a mitral valve splint, and the fixating the splint includes treating a mitral valve incompetency. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising deploying the cover from a delivery catheter with the cover in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising pulling the cord to move the central portion of the cover from the collapsed configuration inward to the center of the ring in the ring-shaped configuration.